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Funtime (manufacturer)

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Funtime
Company typePrivate
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1998 (1998)
Headquarters
Bundall
,
Australia
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsAmusement rides
Websitewww.funtime.com.au

Funtime is an amusement ride manufacturer based in Bundall, Australia.[1] The company manufactures rides such as the Sling Shot, Star Flyer and Vomatron.

History

In 1998, Funtime was established in the suburb of Bundall on the Gold Coast, Australia.[1] Shortly after, the company opened a small amusement park in Surfers Paradise, a nearby Gold Coast suburb. At the time, the amusement park was known as Adrenalin Park and featured the company's Sling Shot and Vomatron rides.[2][3][4]

In 2010, Funtime threatened legal action against Dutch amusement ride manufacturer, Mondial, after that company unveiled the WindSeeker which bears similarities to Funtime's patented Star Flyer ride.[1][5] Mondial responded to the threat by stating that "there is no merit to Funtime's claim".[6] The matter did not progress.

Products

A Star Flyer
  • The Bell — a ride similar to a Frisbee, except they are located inside a giant bell[7]
  • Chaos Pendle — riders are mounted on the ends of several arms and spun around in a propeller-like fashion[8]
  • Rocket — riders are harnessed into a rocket shaped car which is raised into the air and spun around a tower and on its own axis[9]
  • Sky Diver — an amusement ride similar to a Skycoaster where riders are winched to the top of a launch tower and then dropped towards the ground, swinging from a cable tether back and forth until brought to a rest[10]
  • SlingShot — a reverse bungee ride where passengers are propelled over 100 metres at speeds in the region of 160 kilometers per hour. The machine does not utilize rubber ropes or bungee cords as in a slingshot, but is powered by a patented spring propulsion device incorporating up to 720 specially-designed springs. The SlingShot can be custom designed to cause minimal disruption to existing venues.
  • Star Flyer — a variation of the traditional swing ride where riders are swung around the top of a tower[11]
  • Tornado — a ride that simulates a tornado by sending riders in a figure-eight motion[12]
  • Vomatron — a type of ride similar to the centrifuges used in astronaut training, except on a vertical axis[3]
  • Skyfall — currently the highest transportable drop tower in the world with a height of 80 metres (260 ft) [13]

Ride installations

Amusement park

Adrenalin Park in 2007

Funtime operates a small amusement park in the centre of Surfers Paradise, aptly named Funtime.[4] The park features installations of their Sling Shot and Vomatron rides.[2][3] The park was previously known as Adrenalin Park and featured several other rides and attractions, including an Intamin Parachute Drop tower, a mini golf course and a bungee tower.[22][23]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Slind-Flor, Victoria (27 August 2010). "Cedar Fair's New Thrill Ride Infringes Patent, Funtime Claims". Bloomberg. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Sling Shot (Funtime)". Parkz.
  3. ^ a b c d "Vomatron (Funtime)". Parkz.
  4. ^ a b "Funtime". Parkz. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  5. ^ US patent 7666103, Walter Pondorfer & Laurence Ross Petrie, "Amusement ride", published 27 October 2005, issued 23 February 2010, assigned to Cottingham Agencies Ltd. 
  6. ^ Fogarty, Steve (25 August 2010). "Cedar Point's new ride a swing at variety". Chronicle Online. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  7. ^ "The Bell". Funtime. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Chaos Pendle". Funtime. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Rocket". Funtime. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  10. ^ "Sky Diver". Funtime. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  11. ^ Jackson, Jerry W.; Kassab, Beth (23 January 2006). "StarFlyer takes riders for a twirl". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  12. ^ "Tornado". Funtime. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  13. ^ "About Skyfall". Funtime. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Officially the world's tallest Star Flyer!". Park World Magazine. Datateam Business Media Limited. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  15. ^ MacDonald, Brady (12 April 2012). "Steel Pier expansion moves forward minus diving horse act". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  16. ^ MacDonald, Brady (1 September 2011). "Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2012". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  17. ^ "Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags White Water Announce New Thrills for 2013" (PDF). SixFlags.com. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  18. ^ "Texas SkyScreamer" (PDF). SixFlags.com. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  19. ^ MacDonald, Brady (9 February 2012). "Galveston Pleasure Pier brings thrill rides back to Texas coast". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  20. ^ Mayné, François (22 January 2012). "La Ronde annonce Vol Ultime pour son 45ème anniversaire". NewsParcs (in French). Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  21. ^ "The Stars Align In 2017 For New Thrills At Valleyfair!". valleyfair.com. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  22. ^ "Unknown Parachute Drop (Magic Mountain)". Parkz.
  23. ^ Tuttiett, Henry (25 September 2010). "Coast's Adrenalin Park to close". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Funtime Star Flyers.
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